How to Help Detained Migrant Families

Make an impact by contributing to these advocacy groups

With in-kind donations to detention centers being refused by Customs and Border Protection authorities, many are looking for ways to help improve conditions for refugees. Here is a list of organizations in need of volunteers and donations providing direct support and relief to detained refugees in Texas.

The ACLU wants you to call your senator. Their website locates the phone number for you and provides a script for urging elected officials to denounce the Trump administration's immigration policy. ACLU also asks for donations and offers volunteer opportunities.

This nonprofit organization provides necessities to asylum seekers recently released from ICE custody. They are accepting monetary donations to purchase supplies and seeking volunteers to aid refugees with logistical services such as transportation and translation.

This local organization provides shelter and support for displaced immigrants. They are seeking volunteers as well as HEB gift cards to help feed their residents. Donations can be directed to: kpoor@casamarianella.org.

The Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley is providing emergency assistance and shelter to families who have recently been released from border patrol custody. They are taking volunteers and donations to assist in building a new respite center for refugees.

The Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy is partnering with Texas Impact for Courts and Ports, a faith-based 2-day volunteer experience at court proceedings related to detention and deportation in Brownsville, Texas.

The Dilley Pro Bono Project is looking for volunteer attorneys, law students, and paralegals with interest and experience in asylum work. Volunteers should be either fluent in Spanish or collaborating with an interpreter.

Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services provides free and low-cost legal services and education for detainees as well as recently released refugees. They are accepting donations and looking for volunteer pre-law students, paralegals, and legal service providers.

This Austin-based civil and human rights organization seeks donations for its Hutto Community Deportation Defense Bond Fund as well as a visitation program for the women detained inside the T. Don Hutto Detention Center, which is the only all-women’s facility in the country for asylum-seekers.

The center offers a range of volunteer opportunities to assist in providing legal representation to refugee families. Las Americas accepts in-kind donations of office supplies as well as monetary donations.

Via the LEAF Project, RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services) is taking donations to provide universal representation for released unaccompanied kids in Texas. RAICES is also accepting donations to provide legal services for detained separated parents and for bonds to get parents released.

The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights is accepting volunteer applications for Child Advocates to unaccompanied migrant children. They are also taking monetary donations to provide Child Advocates.

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